Elisabeth Murdoch
Combined timeline covering Elisabeth Murdoch (businesswoman, b.1968) — UK/US media executive, founder of Shine and Sister Pictures — and Dame Elisabeth Joy Murdoch (philanthropist, 1909–2012) — Australian philanthropist and matriarch of the Murdoch family.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth of Dame Elisabeth Joy Greene
Elisabeth Joy Greene (later Dame Elisabeth Murdoch) was born in Melbourne, Australia.
Marriage to Keith Murdoch
Elisabeth Greene married newspaper publisher Keith Murdoch (23 years her senior).
Joined Royal Children's Hospital management committee
Began long association with the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne as a management committee member.
Death of Keith Murdoch; inherited fortune
Her husband Keith Murdoch died; Elisabeth inherited the bulk of his estate, establishing her resources for philanthropy.
President of Royal Children's Hospital (start)
Became president of the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (served 1954–1965).
Appointed CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
Honoured for services as president of the Royal Children's Hospital.
Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)
Honoured for role in building a new children's hospital in Melbourne.
Birth of Elisabeth Murdoch (businesswoman)
Elisabeth Murdoch, daughter of Rupert Murdoch and Anna Maria dePeyster, was born in Sydney, Australia.
Family moved to New York
Elisabeth Murdoch and her family moved from London to New York when she was a child.
Attended Brearley School (secondary education)
Completed secondary education at the Brearley School in New York City.
Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Melbourne
Received an honorary Doctorate of Laws in recognition of contributions to research, the arts and philanthropy.
Appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
Awarded AC for services to the community.
Started career at FX Networks (program acquisitions manager)
Began professional career as manager of programme acquisitions at FX Networks in Los Angeles, a unit of her father's media interests.
Graduated Vassar College (AB)
Completed a bachelor's degree at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Marriage to Elkin Kwesi Pianim
Married Elkin K. Pianim (wedding at St Timothy Catholic Church near Beverly Hills). The couple later had two children and divorced in 1998.
Moved to the UK and joined BSkyB management
Relocated to the UK to work within her father's BSkyB; served as second-in-command to Sam Chisholm and later as managing director.
Purchased two NBC-affiliate stations via EP Communications
Operating as EP Communications, Elisabeth Murdoch and husband Elkin Pianim bought KSBW and KSBY in California on a US$35 million loan secured by Rupert Murdoch.
First divorce (from Elkin Pianim)
Divorced Elkin Kwesi Pianim; the couple had two children during their marriage (1993–1998).
Oversaw BSkyB's Millennium Dome sponsorship
As a managing director she oversaw BSkyB's £12 million sponsorship of the Millennium Dome.
Brokering failed bid for Manchester United
Criticised for brokering Rupert Murdoch's unsuccessful £623.4 million bid for Manchester United.
Resigned from family business
Left the family media business to pursue independent ventures.
Tapestry portrait commissioned for National Portrait Gallery (2000)
A tapestry portrait (woven) was commissioned for the National Portrait Gallery — first portrait commissioned of the Victorian Tapestry Workshop (associated with Dame Elisabeth).
Shine expanded through acquisitions (Princess, Kudos)
Under Elisabeth's leadership Shine Group acquired production companies including Princess Productions and Kudos (makers of Spooks and Broadchurch), growing into a leading production group.
Received Centenary Medal
Awarded Centenary Medal for philanthropic services to the Australian arts community.
Founded Shine Limited (television production company)
Established Shine, which would produce hits like MasterChef and later acquire companies including Princess Productions and Kudos.
Marriage to Matthew Freud
Married public relations executive Matthew Freud at Blenheim Palace; the couple had two children and later divorced (filed 2014).
Award from the French government for funding Rodin exhibition
Awarded by the French government for funding an exhibition of works by Auguste Rodin in Melbourne.
Given the key to the City of Melbourne
Recognised in an official ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall for long philanthropic service.
Langwarrin Secondary College renamed Elisabeth Murdoch College
High school in her local area renamed to honour her community work.
Victorian of the Year award
Awarded Victorian of the Year for charity and philanthropic contributions at age 96.
Surpassed Dame Alice Chisholm as longest-lived dame (Jan 2007)
At 97 years and 11 months she became the longest-lived dame in Australia at the time.
Joined Tate Modern Advisory Council chair (2009–2016)
Served as Chair of the Tate Modern Advisory Council from 2009 to 2016 (appointed to Tate trustee in 2008).
Became a Tate Trustee
Appointed as a Tate Trustee (served 2008–2016) and later chaired the Tate Modern Advisory Council (2009–2016).
Hosted Barack Obama fundraiser in London
Hosted a fundraising event for then-Senator Barack Obama at her Notting Hill home.
Residency at Burford Priory (from 2008)
From 2008 the Freud family resided at Burford Priory in Oxfordshire and were associated with the 'Chipping Norton set'.
Melbourne Recital Centre performance venue named after her
Main performance venue named in her honour following donations and involvement with arts institutions.
Reported personal profit from Shine sale
Reported to have pocketed approximately £130m from the News Corp acquisition of Shine in 2011 despite Shine's significant debts.
News Corporation acquired Shine Group
News Corporation bought Shine Group in a controversial £495m+ deal (raise questions about nepotism); Elisabeth Murdoch personally realised ~£130m profit despite Shine's debt.
Public fallout with Rupert Murdoch after MacTaggart Lecture
After delivering a critical MacTaggart Lecture she reportedly was not spoken to by her father for two months; she later regretted comments re: brother James amid the phone-hacking scandal.
Profiled in The New Yorker ('The Heiress')
A lengthy profile of Elisabeth Murdoch (businesswoman) appeared in The New Yorker (Ken Auletta, Dec 2012).
Delivered MacTaggart Lecture at Edinburgh TV Festival
Delivered the high-profile MacTaggart Lecture; reportedly led to a family estrangement with her father for around two months.
Death of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
Died in her sleep at Cruden Farm, Langwarrin, Victoria, aged 103.
Ranked 5th most powerful woman in the UK by Woman's Hour
Assessed as the fifth most powerful woman in the United Kingdom by BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour Power List (Feb 2013 assessment).
21st Century Fox announced merger of Shine with Endemol & Core Media
Parent company merged Shine with Endemol and Core Media (deal announced 2014; further integration/completion into Endemol Shine followed into 2015); Murdoch stepped down as Shine chair thereafter.
Bought home in St John's Wood for £38.5m
Purchase of a London home for £38.5 million, signalling significant personal asset holdings.
Highest placed UK-based woman in MediaGuardian 100
Named the highest placed UK-based woman in the MediaGuardian 100 list in 2014.
Filed for divorce from Matthew Freud
Elisabeth Murdoch and Matthew Freud filed for divorce (reported October 2014).
Set up the Freelands Foundation
Established the Freelands Foundation to expand access to art education across the UK.
Set up Freelands Foundation (arts education)
Established the Freelands Foundation to broaden access to arts education and support art projects across the UK (sister.net notes foundation creation in 2015).
Stepped down as chair after Shine merged into Endemol Shine
After corporate restructuring and integration into the Endemol Shine group, she stepped down as chair of Shine/related division.
Produced Phone Swap (Snapchat dating show)
Produced Phone Swap, a dating reality show which aired on Snapchat and was produced in association with Fox TV Stations.
Chair/Founder roles and minority stakes in creative companies
Founder and Chair of Locksmith Animation and strategic minority shareholder in 110% Content & belofx (as described by sister.net); executive chair of Sister Pictures as of 2023.
Co-founded Sister Pictures (SISTER)
Founded global TV & film production and development company SISTER (Sister Pictures), based in London with LA office.
Sister Pictures first-look deal with Winterlight Pictures
Sister inked a first-look deal with Chris Goldberg's Winterlight Pictures (Deadline report, July 2021).
Deal with Jeremy Strong announced
Sister Pictures announced a deal with actor Jeremy Strong to star in and produce projects (Deadline Nov 2021).
Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Awarded CBE in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to diversity in the arts and to charity (work with Arts Council England council).
Executive chair of Sister Pictures (current as of 2023)
As of 2023, Elisabeth Murdoch serves as executive chair of Sister Pictures (company she co-founded in 2019).
Family court case over Rupert Murdoch's trust (Elisabeth participates)
In 2024 Elisabeth (with siblings James and Prudence) challenged Rupert Murdoch's bid to amend the family trust in Nevada court; the dispute concerned future control of News Corp and Fox Corp.
Key Achievement Ages
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